A challenge over Europe

Tory rebel Adam Afriyie disagrees. In a direct challenge to the Prime Minister’s authority, he will today table an amendment to the European Union (Referendum) Bill to bring the date of an in-out vote forward to October 2014.

The Windsor MP cites a need to end the uncertainty that is hampering both British business and his own party’s prospects of securing an outright majority at the next General Election.

His intervention will be welcomed by the many traditional Conservative supporters unhappy with Mr Cameron’s fudging of the issue of Britain’s increasingly fractious relationship with Brussels.

While Labour’s continued economic illiteracy – evidenced by recent fanciful policy pronouncements – means the prospects of Ed Miliband entering Downing Street have receded, the Tories are still dogged by a lack of decisiveness over Europe.

The suspicion that Mr Cameron is not fully committed to holding a referendum in 2017, and the concern that it would be scuppered anyway if another coalition government was formed, leaves the door open for Ukip and threatens the party’s hopes of an outright win in 18 months’ time.

Yet while supporters frustrated by such indecision will applaud Mr Afriyie’s attempt to force the issue, there must be some reservations.

Such an early referendum would leave little time for the planned renegotiation of the terms of Britain’s membership. There is also a good chance that David Cameron would withdraw the entire legislation if Mr Afriyie wins next month’s Commons vote.

Yet that is an unlikely scenario. What is more likely is that the amendment will be defeated, leaving the party split heading into the crucial period before the next General Election.

It is why some might read Mr Afriyie’s move as being motivated less by a genuine concern over Europe and more by a desire to burnish his own credentials as
a potential leader-in-waiting.

Nevertheless, the support for his stance underlines the fact that this issue remains of paramount concern to those within the party, as well as a significant proportion of the electorate.

If this amendment is defeated, what David Cameron cannot allow to happen is that voters come to regard the 2015 General Election as a de facto referendum on Europe – and respond by pledging their support to Ukip instead.

• Public deserve a fit police force

DESPITE having been in place for barely more than a month, the new fitness tests for police officers have already claimed some high-profile victims.

Jacqui Cheer, chief constable of the Cleveland force, failed the “bleep test” – which requires an officer to complete 35 short shuttle runs in three-and-a-half minutes – while trying to set an example to her staff.

Now two inspectors at South Yorkshire Police have injured themselves while being put through their paces – one of them by slipping on a wet floor, the other through “pushing himself too hard” having already attained the required level.

Despite these mishaps, it is not difficult to see why this new fitness standard has been introduced, given that last year’s Winsor Review of police pay and conditions found that half of the officers in a typical force were overweight.

Of course, chasing criminals on foot is not the only part of police work that matters.

Jacqui Cheer may not have been able to complete the bleep test, but her powers of detection did help to catch Steve Wright, the so-called Suffolk Strangler.

Yet the level of fitness officers are being asked to attain in this instance is by no means unreasonable.

Nor can it be right that, after passing an initial fitness test on entering the force, most undertake no further fitness training for the rest of their career.

This is a physically and psychologically difficult role. Taxpayers are therefore within their rights to expect police officers to have a reasonable level of fitness that ensures they are effective when it comes to the task of protecting the public.

• RAF veteran back at controls

YOU might think that after putting his life on the line while flying missions during the Second World War, Fred Lamprey would prefer to keep his feet on the ground these days.

Yet, at the age of 90, this remarkable veteran is back behind the controls of a Tiger Moth just like the one he first learned to fly in.

On his last flight Fred, who until recently had not flown an aircraft for nearly 70 years, even looped the loop over the Peak District, saying that it was “like riding a bike”.

Flying instructor Will Flanagan, who accompanied him, was left astonished by the nonagenarian’s sharpness and his lightness of touch at the controls.

How wonderful that Fred still has the right stuff seven decades after first taking to the skies for King and country. He gives hope to us all.